The Professional Motor Mechanic (PMM) Podcast, hosted by PMM magazine editor Kieran Nee, is here to take news and industry updates into the ears of garage owners, technicians and aftermarket professionals (and car enthusiasts, why not?!) The PMM team – which produces a magazine read by nearly 60,000 independent UK garage technicians every month – is in prime position to discuss the topics and issues which effect the workshop floor. Topics we cover in the Podcast include supply chain shortage ...
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The classic car market is a growing one, bringing a touch of prestige to drivers across the country. But who are those drivers? And is it true that the classic car owner is still primarily a DIYer tinkering away in the garage? Well, to answer those questions and get a better idea of what opportunity classic car repair and maintenance offers to inde…
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Father-son garages are the powerhouse behind the independent aftermarket. They provide a rock solid base on which UK car repair not only survives, but thrives. How many times do you come across a garage owned by a father whose son also helps out on the workshop floor? It seems that car repair is particularly likely to feature that familial bond tha…
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That the automotive aftermarket is in the midst of a skills crisis can hardly be doubted. Many workshops are complaining that they don’t have the staff to keep up with the amount of work they are presented with and tales are often told of technicians who have left the industry for far easier jobs elsewhere, pocketing more each month in the process.…
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The Government has now published its findings and response to last year’s consultation and call for evidence on the MOT, looking at the frequency of the test and what amendments and updates the DVSA could make to the test to bring into line with current passenger vehicle landscape. But whilst the Government is focussing on the cars and technology o…
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Like ‘em or loathe ‘em, EVs are out driving around on British roads as we speak and many of them are now outside of their manufacturer warranty period. What does this mean? Well, according to EV specialist Matt Cleevely, this offers the perfect opportunity for independent garages like yours to make some money, which is always a good thing! This epi…
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This month the PMM Podcast team are setting out to answer a simple question: Are fake parts on the rise? The answer is, of course, anything but simple. In this episode you will find out what manufacturers, trade organisations and even the police are doing to tackle illegitimate parts infiltrating the aftermarket. As the cost-of-living crisis contin…
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It’s time to start rethinking health and wellbeing in the automotive aftermarket. Too often discussions around mental health are held in isolation from all the other issues that affect our overal health and wellbeing. It’s time to acknowledge that how healthy we are physically, how satisfied we are professionally and how comfortable we are financia…
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Are you ready for the UK’s longest-running aftermarket trade show next month? Listen to this month’s episode of the PMM Podcast to get revved up for Mechanex, taking place at Sandown Park Racecourse, 7-8th November. Hear what show sponsors Mann+Hummel and Alldata are bringing and why they think Mechanex-PMM Live is an opportunity you can’t afford t…
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Supply and Demand: Why UK Garages are Cleaning Up
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In this episode of the Professional Motor Mechanic Podcast, PMM’s Editor Kieran Nee interviews the automotive aftermarket’s numbers man – Quentin Le Hetet, Country Director UK at GiPA. Since the pandemic and to now as we’re navigating the depths of the cost-of-living crisis, it can often feel like garages barely keeping their heads above water. How…
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In this month’s episode of the PMM Podcast, PMM’s News & Product’s editor Freya Coleman visits the woman behind Womanic – Louise Baker. Louise has used her experience running a successful workshop to promote the trade to women and has even appeared on TV to spread her message that the automotive workshop is the perfect place for women to find a tra…
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Aftermarket trade shows offer the perfect opportunity to catch up with leading figures in the industry. Here, the PMM team brings you three great interviews from the recent Automechanika show touching on the big issues affecting the independent aftermarket. So come along with the Freya Coleman and Kieran Nee, presenters of the Professional Motor Me…
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When it comes to car lovers, there are two ends of the spectrum. At one end are the classic car lovers – they love proper vintage motors, authenticity and heritage; at the other, the EV crew – nothing is more blissful to these people than silently gliding around town looking for charge points. One company is making it its mission to bring these two…
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Garage Hive's Garage Industry Trends data platform recently collected and released a load of data from all the MOTs done in the UK in 2021 so we invited Alex Lindley down to our studio just after the data was released to the industry to find out more. Featured: Alex Lindley, Garage HiveBy Hamerville Media Group
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You might imagine that your workshop has little in common with the Make Ready Centres across the country which keep the NHS’s fleet of vehicles up and running, ready to respond to emergencies at any moment. Well, as we discovered when we visited the South East Coast Ambulance Service in Banstead, many of the pressures and challenges faced by the in…
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If you’re concerned about the latest MOT proposals from the government, you need to listen to the latest episode of the PMM Podcast. Cars have never been so advanced, with ADAS and autonomous driving increasingly taking care of road safety and modern engines maximising emissions efficiency. What’s more, cars communicate with their drivers in ways t…
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Have recent oil shortages really plunged the automotive aftermarket into the dark days of the 1970s (bell bottom overalls, anyone?), or is there more to be optimistic about as the true worth of engine oil is finally acknowledged? This month, the PMM podcast takes you on a journey to find out all about oil – the secret ingredient making cars more ef…
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We've been podcasting for 7 months now! And as a special, festive gift to you, we've put together some of our best bits from the podcast in 2022. Kieran and Freya reminisce over garage visits, conversations with industry experts, mechanics and those who are the future of the industry. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from all of us at PMM. We'll …
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What will the future of mobility look like for the aftermarket?
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What if the aftermarket’s leading figures sat down to discuss the impact the government’s push towards electrification could have on the independent aftermarket? Now there’s an idea. This episode we visit the aftermarket trade show Mechanex, where just that happened. We got five of the UK’s most well-known commentators on stage to share their thoug…
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Diagnostics: The Problem Finder For Mechanics
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The average new car has over 100 sensors, 100 electrical components and as many as 1400 semi conductor chips. Modern cars provide a level of comfort, security and efficiency that previous car makers could only have dreamed of. The catch? Each of these components is one more thing which can fail, and when they do, finding out where the issue is, wha…
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Are cybersecurity concerns being used to unfairly squeeze out the independent aftermarket from competing against franchised dealers? This episode we are looking at how vehicle manufacturers are restricting access to vehicle data and what effect that is having on workshops. Professional Motor Mechanic editor Kieran Nee visits Neville Smith at his wo…
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Electrification: should garages go all-in?
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As more and more Local Councils receive funding to deliver electric charge points across their boroughs, should garages be focusing on electrification? This episode we focus on electrification and the future of mobility. Professional Motor Mechanic Editor Kieran Nee speaks to Andy Brooke – a leader in vehicle diagnostic tools and automotive trainin…
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Finding the car technicians of the future...
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Recruiting car technicians is proving difficult for UK garages. School leavers just aren't choosing it as a career option. At the same time, mechanics are retiring and EU citizens are leaving. So what can garage owners do to secure new recruits? In this episode Kieran Nee - editor of Professional Motor Mechanic Magazine - speaks to automotive appre…
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This episode looks at the importance of pricing jobs right and offers some top tips for Garage workshops. Pricing jobs is something garages often struggle with. With mounting pressure from customers to lower car repair costs, garages are often left wondering, what is the right amount? We speak with two garages in Walthamstow about how they price jo…
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Where's my part? Supply shortages in the UK aftermarket
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Automotive supply chains have been thoroughly disrupted by international events over the last two years. For the UK's independent garages, this has led to delays for parts and price increases. In the first episode of The Professional Motor Mechanic Podcast (PMM), the PMM team speak with three local garages about the supply chain challenges they’re …
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